RED HOPES

chapter 4: Alanis/Reverie

Alanis

As if life was treating me well this whole time, the details reached me knocking at my laptop’s screen before I reached home, Damn she was fast, I shouldn’t have agreed that easily but here I was tired as hell and ready to meet Miss Catherine, a trophy daughter of Zachary Murphy, my mother’s dearest friend and former Co-actor in every other film they worked together. She was good, with little to no controversies, nothing wrong with her face, her profile spoke her green credentials, yet the idea of dating was an alien thing which I never wished to experience. A weary sigh escaped my lips as I had to plan a date, court her and do those silly things.

Three days passed and the most awaited day came by for my mother of course. The Launch party which we decided to take right in the winery, the idea turned out perfect as the grounds bore perfect witness of lushness with a creek stretching like a band around. We awaited the guests one hour prior to the official commencing ceremony, wearing perfect tuxes and flowers arranged for our guests. The arrangements were next to perfect yet my mom decided to pay an early visit, just in case. Dressed in a tucked up white shirt with a lilac coat and a matching skirt, a hat to shield her from the scorching sun just added another letter to her OG fashion sense.

I on the other hand, I wore a cool navy blue suit, the strands of my hair left lose to fall upon my smooth unwrinkled forehead. Elvin’s barricades were removed so he made sure to make up for the rest of the week and coming days in these few hours by literally flirting with any breathing woman in sight. This was going to be tiring, I sighed.

Soon guests started swarming inside with big shots to veteran actors and their unscrupulously arrogant kids who only cared about their socials, while some were effusive trying to get in the good books. Apart from these I also spotted a crowd of ladies swooning over from their seats, like a flock of birds eyeing their grains.

“It’s such an honour to see you in person Mr. Carter” one of them was bold enough to approach me in a flimsy manner. I just hummed in her direction in a gentle yet ‘I’m not interested in you’ way, paying no  heed to unnecessary sugar-coated words, those were not welcome at all. She was smart enough take the hint and trail her way inside.

Media too reached the venue surprisingly early, like someone tipped them to. And even in the sun, their camera flashes were the brightest shit that blinded me. “Mr. Alanis!! The son of Ashley Carter, Sir are you also fond of this business?” The reporters especially females ran towards me bombarding my mind with their questions. ‘Here they come’  my inner voice gagged. The thing I hated the most was giving public appearances and portray politeness. Ironic you would say but since childhood these people were stuck with us, trying to cover any outing which only belonged to us. They were like nails to the magnets, an inescapable trap of game I thought.

If my brother was in my place he would love it, counter to my hate, he loved people around him giving all the attention he needed. He always quoted them as “Our two edged enemies” his philosophy parred adult’s views. Question was, where was he?? Seeking another trouble? There was a fair chance of him either escaping or fool around and the least I wanted was mom getting embarrassment. I rushed inside to look out for him.

A number of guests blocked the entrance, making it hard to cross, I had to hem into the crowd only to collide with a soft body wrapped in a woven silk, her head bumped against my rather sturdy chest with a budge. I got hold of her shoulders, in an attempt to save her from falling “I’m so sorr-” any apology stuck painfully in my throat as my eyes landed upon a striking familiar face. Grey irises which resembled infinity, sun marking it’s presence on her tinted cheeks and a pair of lush peach coloured lips which so much invited me for a kiss, a mesh of brown hair covered her forehead, like a frame preserving the beauty of art.